An undergraduate student in Odisha battles for her life with 90 per cent burns on Saturday after she attempted to take her own life by setting herself on fire, due to inaction over a sexual harassment complaint she had made against her lecturer.
Hours later, the accused, Samir Kumar Sahu—an Assistant Professor (Stage-l) in Educational Studies at the Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College in the Balasore district—as well as the college principal, Dilip Kumar Ghose, were suspended. Sahu was also said to be the head of the department.
The girl had filed a sexual harassment complaint with the internal complaints committee of the college on July 1, as well as the local police: both pleas that fell on deaf ears. She is currently battling for her life at AIIMS Bhubhaneswar, sustaining 90 per cent burns. A male friend who tried to rescue her also received a 70 per cent burn injury.
A female student of FM College, Balasore (Odisha) SET HERSELF ON FIRE after her repeated complaints of sexual harassment by the HoD were ignored for over 15 days.
— Varun Choudhary (@varunchoudhary2) July 12, 2025
She pleaded for help — from the government, from the local BJP MLA and MP, and even tweeted seeking justice.
NSUI… pic.twitter.com/iClP4c6l9j
CCTV footage circulating online shows the woman singed by the flames, charging into the corridor of the college. A man tries to help her, but retreats after his t-shirt catches fire. She then walks out of the corridor and into another, with people following her and trying to douse the flames.
A 12-member doctors' team has been formed to take care of the injured woman student, police said, as per a PTI report.
The girl alleged that Sahu had been asking her for “favours”, and had also threatened to destroy her academic career if she refused. Though she was assured that action would be taken in seven days, nothing happened.
#WATCH | Odisha | Balasore student self-immolation case | FM College suspended principal Dilip Ghose says, "The girl had complained against the teacher. A committee was also formed, and it was given 15 days' time. The report was submitted within 7-8 days. We were deciding on the… pic.twitter.com/hlxtZgx71z
— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2025
On Saturday, the woman and several other students began a protest outside the gate of the college. According to the other students at the protest said that she suddenly got up, ran to an area close to the principal's office, poured petrol all over herself, and set herself on fire.
#WATCH | Odisha | Balasore SP Raj Prasad says, "In the case of a female student who attempted self-immolation, prima facie evidence has been established against a teacher. He has been arrested and forwarded to the court. This student had lodged a complaint with the Internal… pic.twitter.com/ZvcmRHQ45u
— ANI (@ANI) July 12, 2025
Balasore Superintendent of Police Raj Prasad said that the accused has been arrested, and that several teams were investigating the matter. Protests at the college have since intensified.
